EU Deems Israeli Settlement Expansion "Illegal"
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The Israeli authorities allowed for the expansion of settlements, giving the occupation an additional 1,300 housing units, which received condemnation from the European Union.
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A Palestinian man walks on his property overlooking the Israeli settlement, "Har Homa," in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
Settlements are illegal under international law and constitute a major obstacle to the achievement of the two-state solution, said European Union Spokesman Eric Mamer.
Mamer's comments came after the Israeli authorities announced the publication of tenders for the construction of more than 1,300 housing units in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, and 83 in "Givat Hamatos" in occupied Al-Quds.
The spokesman published a statement on Monday that deplored the occupation, saying, "The European Union has consistently made clear that it will not recognize any changes to the pre-1967 borders, including with regard to Jerusalem, other than those agreed by both sides."
The spokesman called on the Israeli authorities to "halt settlement construction and to not proceed with the announced tenders."
The Israeli occupation authorities intend to approve the construction of 3144 settlement units in the West Bank during the government session it will hold on Wednesday. The pending settlements will include 30 units in the West Bank and occupied al-Quds, 380 units in "Kedumim," 292 units in "Kfar Ezion," and 286 units in "Har Brakha."
Israeli media quoted the government as saying it would be approving 3000 settlement units in the occupied West Bank.
The Israeli "Peace Now" movement had published a statement in Maariv saying the current government is following the same path as its predecessor, Benjamin Netanyahu. The movement called on the Israeli Labor Party and "Meretz" to demand the abolition of constructing housing units in settlements, as they "harm Israeli interests and any future political solution."
The movement called on the "Meretz" party to intervene due to a statement from MK Yair Golan, one of its representatives, when he said annexation would lead to a third intifada. "Two and a half million Palestinians will be integrated," he said.
This is not the first time a Western power calls on the occupation to put an end to its expansionism while standing idle, as Axios had previously reported that the Biden administration was discreetly pressuring Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett to end settlement expansion in the West Bank.
